Filter processing machine



y 1957 R. J. DUBUC FILTER PROCESSING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 1, 1950 INVENTOR. fOfiE/PTJ 0050c BY 7% a- 74% ATTQPA/fi/ May 21, 1957 DUBUC 2,792,766

FILTER PROCESSING MACHINE Filed June 1; 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORY.

iazffivu 0050c v BY 797 a7% 4 rme/vfr FILTER PROCESSING MACHINE Robert J. Dubuc, Detroit, Mich assignor to Bendix Aviation Corporation, South Bend, Ind., a corporation of Delaware Application June 1, 1950, Serial No. 165,573

14 Claims. (Cl. 93-1) The present invention relates to a machine for fabricating tubular-shaped articles, and more particularly to a machine for fabricating articles such as fluid filtering elements composed of a stack of Washerlike layers or convolutions in face-to-face contact.

In a method of fabricating filter elements composed of a stack of washerlike layers of resinous treated material, such as paper or other fibrous material treated with a phenolic condensation product, the layers are first stamped from sheet material and assembled on a rod or shaft of convenient length. The stack mounted on the rod is then dipped in a bath of hot oil and held therein for a time sulficient to cause the resinous material to set, making the fibers of the material impervious to fluid and giv ing the material itself a substantial degree of rigidity. After the stack has been treated in the oil bath, the oil is removed from the interstices by compressed air, and

2,792,765 Patented May 21, 1957 Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the mechanism for supporting one end of the rod and for applying air pressure to the hollow interior of the rod and stack of wash erlike layers;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the machine shown in Figure 1 taken on line 5-5 thereof; and

Figure 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of an assembled filter element made according to the method referred to hereinbefore.

Hereinafter, for the purpose of illustration only, the description will be concerned with the fabrication of a filter element composed of a stack of washerlike paper layers in face-to-face contact, the paper from which said layers are made having been treated with a thermosetting resinous material before being cut into the washerlike layers. Referring more specifically to the drawings, and to Figure 2 in particular, washerlike layers severed from sheet material are stacked onto a hollow rod 12 and thence outwardly through the interstices of the stack the stack is weighed, measured, marked, and divided into sections corresponding to the length of the final filter elements. In the weighing step, the stack is compressed by end pressure to impart thereto the degree of density maintained in the final assembled filter element. The present invention is primarily concerned with a machine for removing the residual oil from the stack after the oil bath treatment and with weighing, measuring, and marking in to sections corresponding in length to the final filter elea merit. One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a machine which will automatically apply a predetermined air pressure for a predetermined time to the hollow interior of the stack of washerlike layers to remove the residual oil from the interstices thereof, and which will simultaneously apply a predetermined end pressure to the stack to impart thereto the desired density for welghing, measuring, and then marking the stack into sections of the desired length.

Another object of the invention is to provide an efficient means for removing the residual oil from the stack of treated material of washerlike layers with a minimum of damage to the individual layers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine for removing the residual oil from the stack of treated paper washerlike layers and then weighing and marking the stack into sections of the desired length.

Still another object is to provide a simple eincient means for cleaning a stack of washerlike layers in faceto-face contact.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevation of my machine showing the several parts thereof in outline;

Figure 2 is an enlarged detailed view of a rod on which washerlike layers of the stack are mounted for treatment;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the mechanism for supporting one end of the rod and for applying a' predetermined end pressure to the stack of washerlike layers mounted on the rod;

of the washerlike layers, carrying the residual oil to the surface of the stack. A collar 16 is mounted on rod 12 near one end thereof to provide an abutment for the stack. A second collar 18 mounted on the end of rod 12 in spaced relation to collar 16 is provided to hold said rod on a rack (not shown) used in the oil bath treatment.

After the rod and stack of washerlike layers are removed from the oil bath, they are placed in the machine, as shown in Figure 1, one end of said rod being supported by a head assembly 20 (Figures 1 and 4) and the other end thereof being supported by a tail assembly 22 (Fig ures l and 3), both of said assemblies being mounted on a frame '24 consisting of a bed 26 and legs 28. The head assembly consists of a rigid block 30 in which is mounted a shaft 32 having a longitudinal bore 34 and a conicalshaped member 36 adapted to receive the end of rod 12 on which collars 16 and 18 are mounted. The end of the rod seats on an annular gasket 38 secured to an annular surface 49 in said member around the opening to bore 34 and is maintained in alignment with bore 34 by the internal surface of the conical-shaped member 36, said .in-

ernal surface also serving as a guide in seating the end of rod 12 on gasket 38 as the rod is placed in the machine.

The tail assembly 22 includes a cylinder 50 rigidly mounted on bed 26 of frame 24, a piston 52 adapted to be moved in said cylinder by compressed air admitted into the cylinder on one side through conduit 54- and on the other side through conduit 56, the air flow through said conduits being controlled by a four-way valve 58 mounted on one end of said cylinder and actuated manually by a foot treadle 60 through linkage 61. A rod 62 is connected at one end to said piston and carries on the other end a cylindrical member 64 havinga recess 66 into which the end of rod 12 opposite collars16 and, 18 is adapted to seat. The free end of member 64 is adapted to abut against the end of the stack of washerlike layers and apply a predetermined pressure thereto, as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

The air for actuating cylinder 50 and for blowing the residual oil from the stack of washerlike layers mounted on rod 12 in operative position, as shown in Figure l, is supplied to the machine through a conduit 70 which branches at fitting 72 into conduit 74 for supplying air to said cylinder, conduit 76 for supplying air to head 20,

and conduit 78 for operating a pilot valve and timer 80. A cut-off valve 82, a filter 84, a pressure regulator 86 and a lubricator 88 are connected in series in conduit 74 and for the purpose of this disclosure may be considered as conventional elements. The pressure regulator 86 is adapted to maintain a predetermined air pressure in conduit 74 for the operation of piston 52 in cylinder 50 so that the required end pressure for weighing will be applied to the stack of layers assembled on rod 12 by member 64. Conduit 74 is also connected by conduit 90 to a conventional pressure gauge 92.

Conduit 78 connecting fitting 72 with the pilot valve and timer 80 includes a valve 100 actuated by a cam rod 102 mounted on and adapted to move with cylindrical member 64, a collar 1616 around said member being provided to rigidly secure said cam to the member. A lever 108 including roller 110 mounted thereon transmits the movement of cam rod 102 to the valve 100. When member 64 moves forward to retain the stack of layers and rod 12 in operative position in the machine, the lower end of rod 102 engages roller 1G8 and urges lever 110 downwardly, opening valve 160 to admit air to the pilot valve and timer 80. The air thence flows through conduit 76 to head 20 for the required time as selected by the setting on pilot valve and timer 80, and ejects the residual oil from the interstices of the stack.

After the oil has been removed by compressed air from the stack, and while a predetermined end pressure is being maintained on said stack, a device 120 mounted on rod 122 and brackets 124 measures and marks the stack into sections corresponding to the length of the final filter element. This device consists of an air cylinder 125, a piston (not shown) in said cylinder, a piston rod 126, a roller 128 mounted on rod 126, and an ink pad or the like 130 on which said roller rests when the device is inoperative. The operation of the device is controlled by an air timing valve 132 in the conduit 134 connecting air cylinder 125 with conduit 76 and is so timed that roller 128 is moved from the pad 130 to the stack as soon as the operation of removing the oil has been completed. The portion of conduit 134 between valve 132 and cylinder 125 is either a hose or flexible tube so that device 120 can be moved to various positions on rod 126 for measuring and marking. The end pressure applied to the stack on rod 12 is selected to equal the pressure applied to the stack in the completed filter element 136 (Figure 6) by an internal spring 138 secured at the bottom of the element to a cup-shaped closure 140 and at the top to a pin 142. The spring pressure may be of various values, for example, 30 or 90 pounds per square inch, depending upon the pore size desired in the final filter element. For the purpose of measuring and marking the stack to obtain the proper length for the final element, it is first necessary to compress the stack to the degree to which it is compressed by the spring in the final element. The pressure applied to the end of the stack by piston 52 through rod 62 and member 64 is controlled by regulator 86, which may be adjusted to any desired pressures.

In the operation of the present machine, a stack of washerlike layers of material assembled on a rod 12, which has received the oil bath treatment, is inserted in operative position in the machine by placing the end of rod 12 opposite collars 16 and 18 in recess 66 of cylindrical member 64. The operator then actuates treadle 60 which operates valve 58 to move piston 52, member 64, the stack of layers, and rod 12 in the direction to seat collar 18 on gasket 38 in conical-shaped member 36. In this position, the bore 34 of shaft 32 is in alignment with the hollow interior of rod 12. As mem ber 64 completes its forward movement, the end of cam rod 102 presses lever 110 downwardly, opening valve 100, thereby operating pilot valve and timer 80 to admit compressed air throughconduit 76, bore 34, into the 4 hollow interior of rod 12. The air flows from the hollow interior of the rod through ports 14 and outwardly through the interstices of the stack to remove the residual oil therefrom, the oil thence draining into a trough 150. After the compressed air has discharged through the stack for a preselected time as controlled by pilot valve and timer 80, measuring and marking device 120, which has been set on rod 122 at the place corresponding to the length of the final filter element, is actuated, and the stack is marked by the inking roller 128. The roller then returns to its nonoperative position, and treadle 60 is released, thereby admitting air into the forward end of cylinder for Withdrawing piston 52 and member 64 to their nonoperating position. The stack and rod are then removed from the machine and the layers of the stack are removed from the rod. The layers forming the sections of the filter elements are placed in a suitable rack for receiving the internal spring 126. I

Various modifications may be made in the present machine without departing from the scope of the present invention, and the machine may be modified to include various elements to perform additional functions in the procedure described hereinbefore.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for cleaning a stack of washerlike layers in face-to-face contact, comprising a head having an air discharge port, a hollow perforated rod having an orifice at one end adapted to connect the hollow interior thereof with said port for receiving a stack of said layers, a movable member having a recess therein for receiving the other end'of said rod, and a means for moving'said member in the direction 'to establish communication between said orifice and port. 2. An apparatus for cleaning a stack of washerlike layers in face-to-face contact, comprising a head having an air discharge port, a hollow perforated rod having an orifice at one end adapted to connect the hollow interior thereof with said port for receiving a stack of said layers, a movable member having a recess therein for receiving the other end of said rod, and a cylinder and piston for moving said member in the direction to establish communication between said orifice and port and thereafter applying a predetermined end pressure on said stack.

3. An apparatus for cleaning a stack of washerlike layers in face-to-face contact comprising a head having an air discharge port, a hollow perforated rod having an orifice at one end adapted to connect the hollow interior thereof with said port for receiving a stack of said layers, a movable member having a recess therein for receiving the other end of said rod, a cylinder and piston for moving said member in the direction to establish communication between said orifice and port, and a valve means actuated in response to the movement of said member for supplying ah to said port for a predetermined time.

4. An apparatus for cleaning a stack of washerlike layers in face-to-face contact comprising a head having an air discharge port, a hollow perforated rod having an orifice at one end adapted to connect the hollow interior thereof with said port for receiving a stack of said layers, a movable member having a recess therein for receiving the other end of said rod, a means for moving said memher in the direction to establish communication between said orifice and port and thereafter applying a predetermined end pressure on said stack, and a means actuated in response to the movement of said member for supplying air to said port for a predetermined time.

5. An apparatus for cleaning a stack of washerlike layers in face-to-face contact comprising a head having an air port, a conical-shaped cup about said port, a hollow perforated rod having an orifice in one end adapted to connect the hollow interior thereof with said port for receiving a stack of said layers, a movable member having a recessed portion therein for receiving the other end of said rod, a means for moving said member inthe direction.

to place said orifice in said cup about said port, a cam mounted on said movable member, a valve means operated by said cam, and a pilot valve actuated in response to the operation of said valve means for controlling the supply of air to said port.

6. An apparatus for cleaning a stack of washerlike layers in face-to-face contact, comprising a head having an air port, a conical-shaped cup about said port, a hollow perforated rod for receiving a stack of said layers one end of said rod being adapted to seat in said cup, a cylinder, a piston, a shaft connected to said piston, a member mounted on the free end of said shaft and having a recessed portion for holding the other end of said rod, a cam operatively connected to said member, a valve means operated by said cam, and a pilot valve actuated in response to the operation of said valve means for supplying air to said port for a predetermined time.

7. An apparatus for cleaning a stack of annular layers, comprising a head having a fluid port, a rod having fluid passages therein for receiving a stack of said layers, a means containing an orifice for connecting said port to said passages, a movable member having a means for holding one end of said rod, a means for moving said member in the direction to seat said first mentioned means about said port and thereafter applying a predetermined pressure to the end of said stack, and a means actuated in response to the movement of said member for supplying fluid to said passages for a predetermined time.

8. An apparatus for cleaning a stack of washerlike layers in face-to-face contact and thereafter measuring said stack into articles of a desired length, comprising a hollow perforated rod for receiving a stack of said layers, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, a shaft connected to said piston, a member mounted on the free end of said shaft and having a recessed portion for holding one end of said rod, a head for holding the other end of said rod, a means for supplying a predetermined pressure to said cylinder to apply a predetermined end pressure to said stack, and a means actuated by fluid pressure in timed relation to the movement of said piston for marking the length of said articles while said stack is maintained under the predetermined pressure.

9. An apparatus for cleaning a stack of washerlike layers in face-to-face contact and thereafter measuring said stack into articles of a desired length, comprising a head having an air port, a hollow perforated rod for receiving a stack of said layers, a member adapted to move relative to said head and having a recessed portion therein for receiving one end of said rod, a means for moving said member in the direction to seat the other end of said rod about said port and thereafter applying a predetermined pressure to the end of said stack, a valve means actuated in response to the movement of said member for supplying air to said port for a predetermined time, a timing device responsive to changes in fluid input to said head, and a means controlled by said device for marking the length of said articles While said stack is maintained under the predetermined pressure.

10. An apparatus for cleaning a stack of washerlike layers in face-to-face contact and thereafter measuring said stack into articles of a desired length, comprising a head having an air port, a conical-shaped cup about said port, a hollow perforated rod for receiving a stack of said layers, a member adapted to move relative to said head and having a recessed portion therein for receiving one end of said rod, a means for moving said member in the direction to seat the other end of said rod in said cup about said port and thereafter applying a predetermined pressure to the end of said stack, a cam mounted on said movable member, a valve means operated by said cam and a pilot valve actuated in response to the operation of said valve means for supplying air to said port for a predetermined 6 time, a timing device responsive to changes in fluid input to said head, and a means controlled by said device for marking the length of said articles while said stack is maintained under the predetermined pressure.

11. An apparatus for cleaning a stack of washerlike layers in face-to-face contact and thereafter measuring said stack into filter elements of a desired length, comprising a head having an air port, a conical-shaped cup about said port, a hollow perforated rod for receiving a stack of said layers, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, a shaft connected to said piston, a member mounted on the free end of said shaft and having a recessed portion for holding one end of said rod, a means for supplying a predetermined pressure to said cylinder, a cam operatively connected to said member, a valve means operated by said cam and a pilot valve actuated in response to the operation of said valve means for supplying air to said port for a predetermined time, a timing device responsive to changes in fluid input to said head, and a means controlled by said device for marking the length of said filter elements while said stack is maintained under the predetermined pressure.

12. An apparatus for cleaning a stack of washerlike layers in face-to-face contact and thereafter measuring said stack into filter elements of a desired length, comprising a head having an air port, a conical-shaped cup about said port, a hollow perforated rod for receiving a stack of said layers, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, a shaft connected to said piston, a member mounted on the free end of said shaft and having a recessed portion for holding one end of said rod, a means for supplying a predetermined pressure to said cylinder, a cam operatively connected to said member, a valve means operated by said cam and a pilot valve actuated in response to the operation of said valve means for supplying air to said port for a predetermined time, a timing device responsive to changes in fluid input to said head, and a means controlled by said device and including an air actuated cylinder and a roller for marking the length of said elements after the residual oil has been removed from said stack but While said stack is still being maintained under the predetermined pressure.

13. An apparatus for cleaning a stack of annular layers, comprising a hollow perforated rod for receiving a stack, a member for supporting one end of said rod, an abutment on said member for engaging one end of said stack, an abutment for engaging the other end of said stack, a member for supporting the other end of said rod, a means for moving said members relative to one another, and a conduit in one of said members for connecting the hollow interior of said rod with a source of fluid under pressure.

14. An apparatus for cleaning a stack of annular layers, comprising a hollow perforated rod for receiving a stack, a head for supporting one end of said rod, a member adapted to move relative to said head for supporting the other end of said rod, an abutment on said member for engaging one end of said stack, an abutment for engaging the other end of said stack, a means for moving said head and member relative to one another, and a conduit in said head for connecting the hollow interior of said rod with a source of fluid under pressure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 34,722 Randel Mar. 18, 1862 1,166,636 Russell Jan. 4, 1916 1,331,453 Bausman Feb. 17, 1920 1,538,375 Berrigan May 19, 1925 2,160,214 Jackson May 30, 1939 2,176,845 Temple Oct. 17, 1939 2,240,069 Fechheimer .Apr. 29, 1941 2,549,837 Merritt Apr. 24, 1951 

